Chimp acts like jerk, gets praised by scientists
A chimpanzee at Furuvik Zoo in Sweden has been lauded for his 'innovation' and 'sophisticated cognitive skills,' after behaving like a complete schmuck.
The series of photos shows Santino, a sadistic chimpanzee, as he slowly moves towards the group of visitors to Sweden's Furuvik Zoo, with the intention of hurling rocks at them. Note the two projectiles in his left hand. The picture on the left was taken 31 seconds before the throw; the central picture, where he picks up an apple from the water moat, was taken 15 seconds before; the right picture was taken 1 second before the throw.
Tomas Persson/PLoS ONE
A chimpanzee at Sweden's Furuvik Zoo has drawn praise from scientists for acting like a complete jerk.
According to a study published this week in PLoS ONE, Santino, a 34-year-old male, apparently enjoyed hurling stones at people who came to look at him. The mean-spirited behavior began in 2010, when he approached a group of visitors with stones in each hand, screeching at them. The visitors retreated out of range before the horrible chimp started throwing the stones at them.
The group of visitors returned later that day. Santino approached them again holding two stones, but this time appearing non-aggressive and munching on an apple. But once he got within range, he suddenly threw a rock at the group, not hitting anyone.
Later that day, the researchers observed the dastardly ape placing a pile of hay on a spot inside his enclosure close to where visitors approached. He then began hiding rocks under the hay. When a group of visitors approached, Santino nonchalantly walked up to the hay and, without warning, grabbed one of the hidden rocks and threw it at them.
